Brock Turner Returns Home to Armed Protestors

Brock's actions have not been forgotten.

Last Friday, Brock Turner was released from prison after serving a three-month sentence for sexual assault. The former Stanford student had made headlines earlier this summer when he received his original sentence (a shockingly low six months) for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. He was released early for good behavior on September 2, and was allowed to return to his hometown in Ohio. Brock will have to register as a sex offender for life, undergo sex offender treatment, and serve three years of probation; however, many feel that these consequences don't even begin to fit the crime.

As Brock returned to his home, he was greeted by a flurry of armed protestors. NBC Chicago reports that several of Brock's neighbors were protesting his return with signs that read "Castrate rapists" and "Shoot your local rapist." In addition to the handheld signs, protestors drew messages on the street with sidewalk chalk, saying that Brock needs to be held accountable. Some of the community members were even carrying rifles, as Ohio has an open-carry law.

The protestors themselves indicated that the guns were meant as intimidation. One of the protestors told NBC Chicago that no one would shoot Brock unless they saw him "victimizing people." This protestor also said, "Even if the justice system fails, the community is not going to fail," emphasizing the fact that the community is not satisfied with Brock's sentencing.

One thing is certainly clear from the overall reaction to the sentencing. Our society needs to do a better job of handling sexual assault cases, and the consequences need to start fitting the crimes themselves.